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Published on: November 4, 2015
Calcified right ventricular thrombus and antiphospholipid syndrome
Jose Alberto de Agustín1, Iván Javier Nuñez-Gil, Borja Ruiz-Mateos
1Cardiovascular Institute, San Carlos University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. albertutor@hotmail.com
Summary
Antiphospholipid syndrome, a clotting disorder, rarely causes intracardiac thrombosis. This case highlights a calcified right ventricular mass diagnosed as thrombus in a young woman with antiphospholipid syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Pathology
Background:
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder associated with an increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis.
- Intracardiac thrombosis is an uncommon manifestation of APS, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Observation:
- A 30-year-old woman presented with arthralgia, fatigue, and intermittent fever.
- Imaging revealed a large, calcified mass in the right ventricular outflow tract, attached to the tricuspid apparatus.
Findings:
- Surgical resection and histological examination confirmed the mass to be a calcified thrombus.
- Laboratory investigations identified antiphospholipid syndrome as the underlying hypercoagulable state.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering intracardiac thrombosis in patients with APS, even with atypical presentations.
- Early diagnosis and management of intracardiac thrombus in APS are crucial to prevent potentially life-threatening embolic events.
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